Bending-machine.



No. 859,766. PATENTED JULY 9. 1907. v

' A. w.- HAMILTON.

BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.30.1907.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EYE- L 1 Illll|ll l lm l ll'l" .v No, 859,766- PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

W. HAMILTON.

BBN DING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED MAB.30,1907. i 2 SHEETS-SHEET v2.

MWMM

mvcn 0K THE mamas Prrsxs ca, wnsnmarvn, u, c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

BENDING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed M rch 30, 1907. -Serial No. 365,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN W. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and aresident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in bending machines, and it has for its chief object to provide an extremely simple, inexpensive, strong, durable and efficient machine fog bending metal bars and which is particularly adapted for bending or shaping the copper bus-bars employed upon electrical switchboards.

Further objects of the invention are'to provide a machine for bending metal bars which may be readily adjusted to accommodate bars of varying thicknesses, and which is adapted for accurately forming either one or two bends in the bar inserted therein; to provide a machine whereby two reverse right-angle bends may be accurately formed in the inserted bar, and wherein the distance between the bends may be regulated; to provide a machine having means whereby the bar inserted for bending may be conveniently and accurately placed, gaging the distance of the bends from the end of the bar; and to provide a machine whereby a bend of any desired angle may be formed in an inserted bar.

With these and other objects in view, the novelty of the invention resides in certain improvements the exact nature of which will hereinafter appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a 24 hasa rounded end 26 and a flat straight side 27, the

part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention, showing the position occupied by the parts at the completion of the formation of two reverse right-angle bends in a bar; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the bending levers retracted and the parts of the machine in position for the reception of a bar for bending; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33, Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating in top plan a portion of the bed-plate with the adjustable jaw removed therefrom; andFigs. 5, 6 and 7 are edge views illustrating bars having a right angle bend, two reverse right-angle bends and an obtuse angle bend respectively formed therein, as by my machine.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several viewsl indicates a metal bed-plate having formed integral therewith or rigidly attached thereto a block 2 having a square end or jaw-like face 3. Mounted upon said bed-plate with its face 4 parallel to and in opposing relation to the jaw 3 of the stationary block 2 is an adjustable block or jaw 5 of peculiar formation, the purpose of which will presently be made apparent.

Formed integral with the bed-plate 1 on its upper face and inclined at an angle of 45 to the sides thereof is a vertical rectangular or oblong lug 6 which serves as said jaw 5 with relation to the bed-plate.

In the upper face of the jaw 5 and communicating with the socket 7 is a relatively smaller longitudinal slot 8 through which is projected into a threaded socket 9 in said lug 6 a set-screw or bolt 10 for rigidly holding said jaw 5 in adjusted position. A short wrench 11 is preferably pivotally attached to the head of said bolt 10 whereby the latter may be manipulated.

The jaw 5 has a relatively short face 12 at right anglesto its face 4, and is recessed as shown at 13, and has an extension 14 for fitting withina bifurcation 15 provided in the metal head 16 of a lever 17, which head is pivotally attached to said extension. .Defining said recess '13 is a straight wall 18 at right angles to said face 12 and a straight wall 19 at right angles to the wall 18, said walls 18 and 19 being joined by a curved wall 20 which forms a 90 arc of a circle. Said head 16 is rounded at its end to substantially correspond with the curvature of the wall 20 and has plain fiat parallel sides 21 and 22, the former being adapted to lie directly in line with the face 12 of the jaw 5 while the latter lies close against the wall 19.

Pivotally mounted upon the bed-plate 1 adjacent to the straight wall 23 of the block 2 in any appropriate manner .is the head 24 of a second lever 25. Said head latter being adapted for lying fiat against the said wall 23 when said head is swung round on its pivot. Said head also has a flat square end 28 at right angles to said side 27, the purpose of which will presently be explained. In the face 4 of the adjustable jaw 5 is a plurality of vertical dove-tail channels 29 in which are held the similarly-shaped ribs 30 of a flat metal plate 31.

In operation, assuming that all the parts of the device occupy substantially the positions shown in Fig. 2, the bar 32 of metal to be bent is inserted between the jaws 2 and 5, and the movable jaw 5 is then adjusted in relation thereto to cause said bar to be firmly gripped. A graduated linear scale 33 being provided on the bed-plate in line with the space between said jaws, the length of end of said bar may thereby be accurately gaged to provide any requisite length of end beyond the bend to be formed therein. The bar 32 being firmly gripped, the right angle bend 34 is formed by turning the lever 25 to the right, forcing the projecting end of said bar around in front of the head 24 until it lies flat against the face 12 of the jaw 5 and the alined face 21 of the head 16. Then, allowing said head 24 to remain in the position to which it has been turned, as aforesaid, to form a second or reverse right angle bend 35 the lever 17 is turned to the left forcing the end of the bar around against the end 28, when all of the parts stand in substantially the position shown in I Fig. 1.

It will be noted that the jaw 5 is so formed that when adjusted to any position with relation to the fixed jaw 2, the space intervening between said jaws and the space intervening between the face 12 of the movable jaw and a line drawn in continuation of the wall 23 of the fixed jaw are equal; consequently, the reverse bends formed in the manner hereinbefore described will be perfect right angles. It will further be noted that the bends formed in a plurality of bars will in all cases be spaced an equal distance apart.

When it is desired to reduce the distance between the bends 34 and 35, the plate 31 may be removed from the movable jaw 5 and, after being reversed, applied to the fixed jaw 2, dove-tail channels 36 being provided therein for the reception of the ribs 30. As is obvious, by this change the distance between the bends in the bar will be reduced an amount equal to the thickness of said plate 31. As is further obvious, plates 31 of varying thicknesses may be employed in connection with the device for varying thedistances between the bends formed in the bars 32.

A graduated protractor scale 37 of 90 is provided on the bed-plate, as shown, which constitutes a gage for forming in the bar 32 any desired angle greater than a right angle, as shown in Fig. 7.

An upright post 38 integral with the bed-plate 1 is provided at a suitable point, and extended through said post into impinging relation with the outer edge 39 of the movable jaw is an adjusting bolt 40 by means of which said jaw is firmly held against retraction from adjusted position. Said bolt 40 preferably has a small wrench 41 pivotally attached to its head by means of which it may be readily manipulated.

For the purpose of holding the head 24, against displacement from the operative position of Fig. 1, a small lever 42, is pivoted upon said head and at its end is pivoted to a pin 43, the latter working through a bore in the head. The bed plate 1, is formed with a recess 44, which coincides with the pin 43, when the head 24, is in operative position. Said head is locked; in such position by properly operating the lever 42, to

force its pin 43, into the recess 44.

Having thus fully described my invention 1 claim:

1. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, an adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, said adjustable block being mounted for movement towards and away from said fixed block and having one of its working faces parallel and opposed to one of the working faces of said fixed block, a head having straight working faces disposed at right angles and mounted for movement to present one of its working faces perpendicularly to said opposed faces and in parallelism to the non opposed faces of said blocks and a second head pivotally carried by said adjustable block, said second head having a straight working face and mounted for movement to present its working face in parallel opposition to the outer working face of said first named head.

2. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, an adjustable block mounted for movement towards and away from said fixed block, said adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces being in parallel opposi- -tion to one of the working faces of said fixed block, a

head having straight working faces disposed at right angles, said head being pivotally suspended from said fixed block and mounted for movement with relation to the adjacent working face thereof and a second head pivotally connected to said adjustable block and adapted for movement into opposing relation to one of the faces of the first mentioned head.

3. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, an adjustable block mounted for movement towards and away from said fixed block, said adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces being in parallel opposition to one of the working faces of said fixed block, a head having straight working faces disposed at right angles, said head being pivotally suspended from said fixed block and mounted for movement with relation to the adjacent working face thereof and a second head pivotally suspended from said adjustable block and having a straight working face, said second head being movable to bring its working face into parallel opposition with the adjacent working face of said first named head in the operative position of the latter.

4. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, an adjustable block mounted for movement towards and away from said fixed block, said adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces lying in parallel opposition to one of the working faces of said fixed block, a head having straight work-ing faces disposed at right angles, said head being pivotally suspended from said fixed block, and mounted for movement with relation to the adjacent working face thereof, said adjustable block being formed with a recess comprising straight faces extending at right angles to one another and a curved face uniting said straight faces, and a second head pivoted within said recess and having a curved face bearing against said first named curved face and straight working faces disposed at right angles to one another, said second head being movable to bring its working face into parallel opposition with the adjacent working face of said first named head in the operative position of the latter.

5. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block having straight working faces disposed at right anglesfa second block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces of said second block being in parallel opposition to one of the working faces of said fixed block and a head having Working faces disposed at right angles and mountedfor movement whereby one of its working faces will be parallel to the nonopposed working faces of both of said blocks and will oppose the same in co-operative relation and a second head pivotally carried by said second block and mounted for movement whereby its working face will be parallel to the other of the working faces of the first mentioned head and will oppose the same in co-operative relation,

6. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising blocks having opposed parallel working faces and working faces disposed at right angles to said opposed faces, one of said blocks being stationary and the other adjustable in relation thereto, a bending head pivotally suspended from the stationary block and movable with relation to the adjacent working face and a second bending head pivotally suspended from the block adjustable and movable therewith and adapted to'co-operate with said first named head.

7. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed block and a movable block mounted in opposed cooperating relation, a bending head pivotally mounted and movable to co-operate with both blocks and a second bending head pivotally suspended from the adjustable block and movable therewith, the last named bending head being adapted to co-operate with said first named head.

' 8. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a fixed bending block, an adjustable bending block, said blocks being mounted in opposed co-operating relation, a bending head having straight working faces disposed at right angles, said head being pivotally mounted for movement to bring one of its working faces into co-operative relation to the non-opposed faces of said blocks, and a second bending head pivotally carried by and movable with said adjustable block, said second head being adapted for co-operative movement with relation to the other working face of the first-mentioned head.

9. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a bedplate, a fixed block thereon having straight working faces disposed at right angles, a lug on said bed plate extending at an angle of 45 to the faces of said block an adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces confronting one of the working faces of said fixed block, said adjustable block being formed with a socket of greater length than and surrounding said lug as a guide, and with a slot communicating with said socket, a set screw projected through said slot and threaded into said lug, said set screw being formed to hold said adjustable block at se lected positions and bending heads having straight faces co-operating with the straight faces of said blocks.

.10. A bending machine of the type set forth comprising a bed plate, bending blocks mounted thereon in opposed co-operative relation, a bending head mounted adjacent to one of said blocks and a second bending head pivotally suspended from the other of said blocks and movable to cooperate with said first named head said blocks and said heads having straight working faces disposed at right angles said bed plate being formed with a 90 protractor scale one of the legs of said scalebeing curved and in the path of pivotal movement of said last named head and the other legs of said scale extending in parallelism to the respectiv faces of said blocks.

11. A bending machine ofthe type set forth comprising a bed plate, a fixed block thereon having straight working faces disposed at right angles, a lug on said bed plate extending at an angle of 45 to the faces of said block an adjustable block having straight working faces disposed at right angles, one of said working faces confronting one of the working faces of said fixed block, said adjustable block being formed with a socket of greater length than and surrounding said lug as a guide, and with a slot communicating with said socket, a set screw projected through said slot and threaded into said lug, said set screw being formed to hold saidadjustable block at selected positions, an apertured post carried by said bed plate, an adjusting screw threaded therethrough and impinging the adjacent side of said adjustable block and bending heads having straight faces co-operating with the straight faces of said blocks.

12. A bending machine of the type set forth, comprising a bed plate, opposed bending blocks mounted thereon in cooperating relation, a bending head mounted for pivotal movement over said bed plate and co-operating with said blocks, said bed plate being formed with a recess, a lever pivoted on said head, said head being formed with a bore, and a pin working in said bore and pivoted to said lever, said pin being formed to engage in said recess and hold said head in operative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN W. HAMILTON.

Witnesses H. E. DUNLAP, E. A. LENKARD. 

